Crown Hqtrs Trp

When this website went 'live' the furthest back we could go was through the experiences of the likes of John Barnett. We have since been contacted by Tony Bennett and this is his story. "I may be able to fill in some gaps, especially from the early days since I was on the advance party who were staying in hotels in Mukdahan until the tented camp was built. I can tell you is that an outfit called 513 Specialist Team (Airfield Construction) based at Deverell Barracks Ripon, did the Recce for Op Crown and the very 1st part of that recce was done in England in the Swindon area in early 1963 and I was with them as a driver. We were billeted in the RM College of Science at Shrivenham. This specialist team consisted of surveyors, draughtsmen and soil mechanics. I can't remember many names but the OC was a Major, there were three WO1s, a WO2 and various NCOs. The only names I remember just now are Cpl Geordie Nesbit and Lcpl Trev Turnbull. They were both Surveyors also a Soil mechanic by the name of "Hippo". I didn't go out to Thailand on the recce with them so I don't know when it took place. I myself went out to Singapore early in November 63 and HQ OP Crown formed in Gilman Barracks where we spent the time drawing stores/vehicles and getting them ready for shipping up to Thailand. The next thing to happen was the RSM 'Timber' Wood sent for me and told me Lt.Col McIntyre had chosen me to be his driver (lucky me) and I was packed off to RAF Changi. I flew in an Argosy and off we went to Ubon and then on to Mukdahan. I met my new boss 'Mad Mac'. The next few weeks we were back and forth to Kok Talat daily on surveying etc. Until the tented camp was built. Anything else I can help you with give me a shout, I am probably a wealth of knowledge until about Sept/Oct 64 when I unfortunately had to go back to my own Sqn in Ripon namely 48 Fld Sqn" (Tony Bennett below left)

John Barnett (above right) was a Refrigeration Mechanic which is why he spent New Years Eve 1963, at the Royal Australian Air Force base at Ubolrajdhani (Ubon) North East Thailand. Because of his specialist skills he was posted to Crown Headquarters Troop . He left 'Blighty' at short notice leaving behind his pregnant wife in married quarters at Gillingham. John spent the next twelve months plying his trade in the hot, dusty, cold and wet country that is North East Thailand. He is alive and well, his story of the beginnings of HQ Troop Op Crown is as follows. "In December 1963 I was stationed at Gordon barracks Gillingham. I received word to present myself at HQ where I was told to be prepared for embarcation to a secret location at 24 hours notice. I went back to my place of work where upon my mates enquired the reasons for my call to HQ. I told them about the 24 hrs notice and the secret location etc etc whereupon they said in unison " That will be Thailand ". So much for secrecy! After work I went to our married quarters and informed my wife of the days events. Eventually the call came depart to the Far East. I said goodbye to my wife and our unborn child and flew out to Singapore. Travelling with me was 'Jock McColl' also a 'Fridge Mech' and together we would spend the next 12 months in the inhospitable scrubland that is North East Thailand. We flew from Singapore in a Beverly aircraft arriving at Ubon airfield on New Years Eve 1963. We stayed at the RAAF base overnight to travel to Leong Nok Tha on New Years Day 1964. The Army with it's usual tendency for 'cockups' contrived to lose/misplace our paybooks, which is why we found ourselves in a town full of exotic nightlife and no cash to enjoy some of the exotica. The Aussie airforce came to our rescue and invited us to a BarBcue where we had all we could eat and drink. It would have been more of a New 'Tears' Eve except for the generosity and hospitality of the Australians. If there are any of you Ozzie airmen reading this blog, I offer a belated thanks for our salvation that night. It would have been pretty miserable without it!"

John Docherty was involved in one of the many incidents that provided good entertainment for the local population. A Scammel Lowloader went belly up whilst crossing a bridge designed to carry a Buffalo drawn cart, an entirely predictable outcome you might think? It certainly provided an interesting talking point in what could sometimes be a dreary life. John's blog can be read HERE (Adobe Acrobat needed)